Training Your Eskie
Smart enough to walk each other, Eskies are highly trainable and love to work!
The Basics
Oftentimes, your American Eskimo dog will benefit from group training sessions for both practice and socialization purposes. If you have never trained a dog before, you will want to take at least one obedience class with your new friend. These classes help you learn how to manipulate your dog's natural instincts into commands you can both understand.
There are four commands that every dog should know, and you should begin teaching these commands as soon as your Eskie comes home, in addition to enrolling your dog in an obedience class. These commands are:
Sit:
This command is the foundation for every other command that will follow, so start here. To teach this command, get your dog's attention with a small treat, then hold the treat about 12 inches above their muzzle. When a dog looks up, his bottom eventually goes down. As soon as he is in the sitting position, say, "Sit!" and give him the treat and praise him. Repeat this many times a day, eventually transitioning away from treats, and relying just on praise for the reward.
Lay Down:
To teach this command, place your dog in the "Sit" position, then lower the treat from above the head to the floor and slide the treat along the floor toward your feet. The dog will follow the treat with this body, and should eventually lay down. As soon as he is in the laying position, say, "Lay" or "Lay Down," and reward him. Practice this many times a day.
Stay:
To teach this command, place your dog in the "Sit" position, facing you. Tell him to STAY, then back up one step. If he does not move, say, "Good dog!" and give him a small treat reward. Then, increase it to two steps. Then, three steps, four steps, five steps... up until you are able to leave the room entirely. Any time the dog breaks out of the "Stay" before you call him to you, you should say, "Uh oh!" and walk him back to the start. Do not scold or say "no" if your dog breaks out of the "Stay," as that will eventually make it harder to teach a recall command. Practice this frequently throughout the day.
Recall:
Also known as "Come" or "Here," this is the most important command you will teach your dog, and it takes the longest to perfect. By teaching "Stay" with the above method, you have already laid the foundation for your dog to associate good things with being called by you. This is important because when your dog is outside, you will be competing with the birds, squirrels, and cats for his attention; you must become more interesting than the outside world!
Practice this from day one with your dog. Each time he comes to you on his own, say, "Come!" and play with him, treat him, or otherwise reward him for coming to you on his own. Then, start integrating the recall phrase into mealtimes, saying, "Come!" before setting down his food. Last, in a safely enclosed outdoor setting (fenced backyard, empty dog run) or with your dog on a 20 foot line of rope, practice letting your dog roam around, then say, "Come!" Each time he comes to you, treat him with a special treat. By this point, he should be coming to you each time you say "Come!" Slowly phase out the food treats, eventually just rewarding with praise and petting.
NEVER tell your dog to "Come!" for something bad, or stressful; scolding, bathing, brushing, or anything else your dog might find unpleasant. The recall phrase you choose should only be associated with fun, treats, and praise. If your dog ever gets loose when off leash and will not come to you, don't lose your temper and start hollering "Come!" over and over. Just walk him down; do not run after him, as he will then think it's a game. Just walk him down, keeping him in sight. When you do catch up to him, don't say ANYTHING, just put him on a leash and make him follow you back to your destination. If you do not have a leash, hold him by the collar and walk him back. He must walk back with you to learn that "Come!" is non-negotiable. When you arrive back home, say, "Come!" in a happy voice and praise him for coming back with you.
There are four commands that every dog should know, and you should begin teaching these commands as soon as your Eskie comes home, in addition to enrolling your dog in an obedience class. These commands are:
Sit:
This command is the foundation for every other command that will follow, so start here. To teach this command, get your dog's attention with a small treat, then hold the treat about 12 inches above their muzzle. When a dog looks up, his bottom eventually goes down. As soon as he is in the sitting position, say, "Sit!" and give him the treat and praise him. Repeat this many times a day, eventually transitioning away from treats, and relying just on praise for the reward.
Lay Down:
To teach this command, place your dog in the "Sit" position, then lower the treat from above the head to the floor and slide the treat along the floor toward your feet. The dog will follow the treat with this body, and should eventually lay down. As soon as he is in the laying position, say, "Lay" or "Lay Down," and reward him. Practice this many times a day.
Stay:
To teach this command, place your dog in the "Sit" position, facing you. Tell him to STAY, then back up one step. If he does not move, say, "Good dog!" and give him a small treat reward. Then, increase it to two steps. Then, three steps, four steps, five steps... up until you are able to leave the room entirely. Any time the dog breaks out of the "Stay" before you call him to you, you should say, "Uh oh!" and walk him back to the start. Do not scold or say "no" if your dog breaks out of the "Stay," as that will eventually make it harder to teach a recall command. Practice this frequently throughout the day.
Recall:
Also known as "Come" or "Here," this is the most important command you will teach your dog, and it takes the longest to perfect. By teaching "Stay" with the above method, you have already laid the foundation for your dog to associate good things with being called by you. This is important because when your dog is outside, you will be competing with the birds, squirrels, and cats for his attention; you must become more interesting than the outside world!
Practice this from day one with your dog. Each time he comes to you on his own, say, "Come!" and play with him, treat him, or otherwise reward him for coming to you on his own. Then, start integrating the recall phrase into mealtimes, saying, "Come!" before setting down his food. Last, in a safely enclosed outdoor setting (fenced backyard, empty dog run) or with your dog on a 20 foot line of rope, practice letting your dog roam around, then say, "Come!" Each time he comes to you, treat him with a special treat. By this point, he should be coming to you each time you say "Come!" Slowly phase out the food treats, eventually just rewarding with praise and petting.
NEVER tell your dog to "Come!" for something bad, or stressful; scolding, bathing, brushing, or anything else your dog might find unpleasant. The recall phrase you choose should only be associated with fun, treats, and praise. If your dog ever gets loose when off leash and will not come to you, don't lose your temper and start hollering "Come!" over and over. Just walk him down; do not run after him, as he will then think it's a game. Just walk him down, keeping him in sight. When you do catch up to him, don't say ANYTHING, just put him on a leash and make him follow you back to your destination. If you do not have a leash, hold him by the collar and walk him back. He must walk back with you to learn that "Come!" is non-negotiable. When you arrive back home, say, "Come!" in a happy voice and praise him for coming back with you.
After the Basics
Many Eskies enjoy dog sports like flyball, agility, competitive obedience, tracking, and messenger dog. There are many clubs and trainers in the area that can help you get your dog into any of these sports! In addition to dog sports, there are lots of fun games you can play with your Eskie at home to practice basic commands, and spend some fun time together. Here are three ideas:
Switcheroo:
Teach your dog to “Drop it!” by exchanging one toy for another. Take two toys that are very different, and engage your dog in play with one of them. Once your dog is very excited with the one toy, stop playing with that toy, say “Drop it!” and shake the other toy vigorously! When your dog goes after the second toy, repeat the process several times.
Freeze Tug:
Play tug with your dog, and when you take the toy away, hold it high above their head and say, “Sit!” When they do, you can give them the toy, and restart the game. Break for a “Sit!” every 30 seconds or so.
Doggy Limbo:
How low can your dog go? Take your dog’s favorite treat, and close your hand over it. Let your dog sniff and lick your hand, and slowly move your hand to the floor while saying, “Lay down.” When your hand hits the floor, say, “Lay down,” again. As soon as your dog is in the laying position, open your hand and give the treat!
Switcheroo:
Teach your dog to “Drop it!” by exchanging one toy for another. Take two toys that are very different, and engage your dog in play with one of them. Once your dog is very excited with the one toy, stop playing with that toy, say “Drop it!” and shake the other toy vigorously! When your dog goes after the second toy, repeat the process several times.
Freeze Tug:
Play tug with your dog, and when you take the toy away, hold it high above their head and say, “Sit!” When they do, you can give them the toy, and restart the game. Break for a “Sit!” every 30 seconds or so.
Doggy Limbo:
How low can your dog go? Take your dog’s favorite treat, and close your hand over it. Let your dog sniff and lick your hand, and slowly move your hand to the floor while saying, “Lay down.” When your hand hits the floor, say, “Lay down,” again. As soon as your dog is in the laying position, open your hand and give the treat!
Issabelle practices her recall on a snowy day...
Caring for your Eskie
What should I feed my Eskie?
All dogs should be fed a premium kibble diet. Many people now espouse the "raw" or "prey model" diet for dogs; however, this method of feeding can be very expensive, very time consuming, and carries a risk of bacterial contamination. It is often easier to choose a kibble food that includes the meat and protein based nutrition that a "prey model" diet relies on.
Premium kibble will contain a high percentage of meat and egg ingredients; of the first 5 ingredients, at least 3 should be from named meat sources. The more meat ingredients listed, the better the food! It is also important to note that grains like corn and wheat are not part of a natural canine diet; in fact, many dogs are highly allergic to these ingredients, and they should be avoided in your dog's daily diet. Additionally, soy is a major allergen and should be avoided as well.
Ingredients to avoid include sugars, corn syrups, artificial colorants, "animal digest," "meat and bone meal," "glyceryl," and other chemical-type additives. It is extremely important to avoid foods which contain BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin, (6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline). These preservatives are banned for use in many countries, although they are still legal in the United States. These preservatives have been linked to cancer, liver and kidney failure, and heart irregularities.
Nebraska American Eskimo Rescue uses super-premium foods for all our rescues. Foods we like include: Innova's EVO, Wellness CORE, Solid Gold, Blue Buffalo: Wilderness, Before Grain, Taste of the Wild, Instinct, and Orijen. If you're wondering about the quality of your dog's food, check it out at Dog Food Analysis. We do not recommend feeding anything rated less than 5 stars.
Premium kibble will contain a high percentage of meat and egg ingredients; of the first 5 ingredients, at least 3 should be from named meat sources. The more meat ingredients listed, the better the food! It is also important to note that grains like corn and wheat are not part of a natural canine diet; in fact, many dogs are highly allergic to these ingredients, and they should be avoided in your dog's daily diet. Additionally, soy is a major allergen and should be avoided as well.
Ingredients to avoid include sugars, corn syrups, artificial colorants, "animal digest," "meat and bone meal," "glyceryl," and other chemical-type additives. It is extremely important to avoid foods which contain BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin, (6-ethoxy-1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline). These preservatives are banned for use in many countries, although they are still legal in the United States. These preservatives have been linked to cancer, liver and kidney failure, and heart irregularities.
Nebraska American Eskimo Rescue uses super-premium foods for all our rescues. Foods we like include: Innova's EVO, Wellness CORE, Solid Gold, Blue Buffalo: Wilderness, Before Grain, Taste of the Wild, Instinct, and Orijen. If you're wondering about the quality of your dog's food, check it out at Dog Food Analysis. We do not recommend feeding anything rated less than 5 stars.
What kind of Exercise does my Eskie need?
All dogs require exercise, and the American Eskimo dog is no different. You should walk your Eskie for at least 30 minutes a day, in addition to playing interactive games to tire their mind. Eskies are often excellent in agility trials, obedience competitions, and other dog sports. No matter what you choose to do with your Eskie, remember that they need two kinds of exercise: physical and mental.
Nebraska American Eskimo Rescue partner and trainer, Madonna Kilpatrick, recommends a "30-15-15" approach to training. Each day, walk your dog for 30 minutes. Then, spend 15 minutes practicing commands like Sit, Lay, Stay, and Come in addition to other commands your dog knows. Last, spend 15 minutes playing an interactive, challenging game with your dog; games that require your dog to think, like Hide n' Seek, Fetch, Jack in the Box (hide a treat in an easy to open box, and let your dog figure out how to get to it!). There are also problem solving toys on the market, like the Buster Cube.
Nebraska American Eskimo Rescue partner and trainer, Madonna Kilpatrick, recommends a "30-15-15" approach to training. Each day, walk your dog for 30 minutes. Then, spend 15 minutes practicing commands like Sit, Lay, Stay, and Come in addition to other commands your dog knows. Last, spend 15 minutes playing an interactive, challenging game with your dog; games that require your dog to think, like Hide n' Seek, Fetch, Jack in the Box (hide a treat in an easy to open box, and let your dog figure out how to get to it!). There are also problem solving toys on the market, like the Buster Cube.
Should I Crate Train My Eskie?
Sure! Dogs that are crate trained get into less trouble when left at home while you're at work, and are generally happy with their accommodations. Dogs are "den animals," meaning that they feel safest and most comfortable when in a small, cozy environment.
There are lots of different crate types, from plastic flight kennels and wire crates to expensive crates disguised as pieces of furniture and nylon crates that are designed to collapse and fold away like camping tents.
Here are some basic Dos and Don'ts for crate training your dog:
DO:
Feed meals in the crate.
Let the dog sleep in the crate.
Use the crate to keep your dog safe in the car.
Use the crate to help the potty training process
Crate your dog when you will be gone for short or intermediate periods of time (5 minutes to 4 hours)
Use a crate under the specific guidance of a behavior consultant to teach your dog to manage separation anxiety.
DO NOT:
Use the crate as a punishment
Expect your dog to accept the crate immediately
Leave your dog in the crate for more than 4-5 hours at a time as housebroken adults or longer than 2-3 hours as puppies or adult dogs who need housetraining.
You can read about the four step process of crate training your new dog at The Humane Society of The United States' website, here.
There are lots of different crate types, from plastic flight kennels and wire crates to expensive crates disguised as pieces of furniture and nylon crates that are designed to collapse and fold away like camping tents.
Here are some basic Dos and Don'ts for crate training your dog:
DO:
Feed meals in the crate.
Let the dog sleep in the crate.
Use the crate to keep your dog safe in the car.
Use the crate to help the potty training process
Crate your dog when you will be gone for short or intermediate periods of time (5 minutes to 4 hours)
Use a crate under the specific guidance of a behavior consultant to teach your dog to manage separation anxiety.
DO NOT:
Use the crate as a punishment
Expect your dog to accept the crate immediately
Leave your dog in the crate for more than 4-5 hours at a time as housebroken adults or longer than 2-3 hours as puppies or adult dogs who need housetraining.
You can read about the four step process of crate training your new dog at The Humane Society of The United States' website, here.
Don't Forget to Vet!
Your dog should see a veterinarian at least once a year. This allows you to get updated weight for your dog in order to properly manage his diet, and to stay knowledgeable about your dog's other health, wellness, and dental conditions.
Your veterinarian can perform a quick check up of your dog's ears, nose, teeth, and overall body condition when you bring him in for his annual shots. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about any health concerns you might have at this time.
Your veterinarian can perform a quick check up of your dog's ears, nose, teeth, and overall body condition when you bring him in for his annual shots. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about any health concerns you might have at this time.
Brady's pearly whites are a sign of great health!
All articles and information contained on this website are the sole property of Madonna Kilpatrick, not to be used without express permission (C) 2010. Some images are the property of Jim Guilliatt (C) 2010. Not for distribution without credit. To reuse any image or information contained herein, contact us prior to use for permission.
